Thomond Park to host play-off final

A BONUS prize for the finalists of this year’s AIB All-Ireland League Division One play-off is a chance to perform at Thomond Park on May 9th.

It will be the first time that the home of Munster rugby has been used for the club grand finale, with the organisers no doubt factoring in the possibility that the last two teams standing could both be from Munster anyway.

Either way local support is guaranteed as there is certain to be one Limerick team involved in Irish club rugby’s end-of-season showpiece, which will see the winners of this Saturday’s league semi-finals progress.

Cork Constitution face Clontarf, which will be featured live on RTÉ 2 at 2pm, with the other semi-final involving the two Limerick heavyweights, Shannon and Garryowen. Geoff Moylan’s Shannon play their semi-final at home (not Thomond Park) courtesy of a bonus point win over Dolphin at Coonagh last Saturday, while Clontarf make the long journey to Temple Hill in the other fixture.

All four teams will play next season in the new-format league and along with St Mary’s College, Blackrock College, Dolphin and UL Bohemians will feature in Division One Section A.

The Division Two and Three play-off finals will also take place in Limerick on Saturday, May 9th, with Dooradoyle hosting both matches. The Division Three final will kick off at noon, followed by the Division Two final at 2pm.

In the Magners league, Munster host Scarlets on Friday night in their last game of the season at Musgrave Park. The European champions, 11 points ahead at the top, have one hand on the trophy already. Last year’s champions, Leinster, face Glasgow Warriors on Saturday at the RDS, where no team from Scotland has won in this competition.

Ulster face Cardiff Blues at home, while bottom-placed Connacht travel to Wales for a meeting with Newport Gwent Dragons.

Connacht skipper John Muldoon will miss the game through suspension. He picked up a yellow card in the 25-10 defeat away to Munster on Saturday. That was his third yellow card of the campaign and under Magners League rules he must serve an automatic one-match suspension.

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINALS: Saturday May 9th: Division One: Thomond Park, 4.0; Division Two: Dooradolye, 2.0; Division Three: Dooradoyle, 12.0.